休職対応で新助成金創設　安倍首相、休校要請に理解求める―緊急対策、第２弾策定へ

　安倍晋三首相は２９日、首相官邸で記者会見し、新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大を受け、全小中高校などに臨時休校を要請したことに国民の理解を求めた。休職する保護者を支援するため、所得減少を補う助成金制度を新設すると表明。緊急対応策第２弾を今後１０日程度で取りまとめるとし、関係法整備への与野党の協力を呼び掛けた。
　首相は、国内の感染拡大は韓国やイタリアほどではないとの認識を示した上で「これから１～２週間が急速な拡大に進むか終息できるかの瀬戸際だ」と指摘。「あらゆる手を尽くすべきだ」と述べ、イベント自粛などを改めて要請した。
　休校要請に踏み切った理由については「万が一にも子どもの集団感染を起こしてはならない」と説明。「大変な負担をかけるが、理解をいただきたい」と述べた。新助成金は非正規労働者も対象とする。（2020/02/29-20:57）

The Japanese government plans to set up a financial aid program for parents who would see their wages fall after taking leave to care for their children following school suspensions amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday.
   "We must prepare for infection risks, putting children's health and safety first," Abe told a rare weekend news conference, seeking understanding from the public for his government's request for schools to be suspended.
   The government recently requested all elementary, junior high and high schools, and special-needs schools in the country to close from next Monday until the start of the regular spring break, as part of measures to reduce the risk of infection.
   Abe reiterated that the next two weeks or so will be crucial toward containing the virus.
   "I decided to make the school suspension request on my own responsibility, so I will take all possible measures to deal with various issues (related to the viral outbreak) on my own responsibility," Abe said. A second batch of emergency steps to fight the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus will be drawn up in 10 days or so, he also said.